Parking improvement plans for Frodsham and Helsby revealed

2 February 2018

An action plan to ensure parking in Frodsham and Helsby is fit for purpose and positively contributes to the towns’ economies has been published.

The plan, designed to better manage car parking demand across both towns, is part of the Council’s 15-year parking strategy.

It will see fair, consistent tariffs and other controls such as length of stay restrictions across different car parks and a clear investment programme to improve the quality of car parking and attract more visitors and shoppers.

In both towns, new parking controls are particularly needed to better manage the impact of rail-related parking. Currently, the free and unrestricted parking available near both rail stations is attractive to outside commuters who use the towns as ‘Park and Rail’ locations.

Although this has benefits in terms of reducing then number of cars on the borough’s roads, it results in a lack of short-stay day-time parking in both towns for retail-related uses and is a situation predicted to worsen once the Halton Curve (the rail route between Frodsham/Helsby and Liverpool) is re-opened.

The new tariffs and controls will help to address the current imbalance caused by rail station parking in both towns, by introducing a long stay charge to moderate the rail demand, while also prioritising parking for short-stay users where it is most needed.

The car parks and on-street parking included in the action plan are: in Frodsham – Moor Lane, Frodsham Station (large car park including extension), Health Centre, Will to Work (extension) and Main Street bays; in Helsby - Station Avenue car park and the on-street bays on Chester Road.

The Council’s Cabinet Member for Environment, Councillor Karen Shore, said: “Our population and car ownership rates are steadily rising and land available for car parking is decreasing.

“Over the coming years, the Council needs to invest in car parks so that we have enough clean and safe spaces, in the right places, with clear signage and new technology to make it easier and more convenient for people coming to Frodsham and Helsby town centre by car.

“With this action plan for Frodsham and Helsby we are introducing the right controls in the right places to release capacity for short stay parking to boost businesses, encourage visitors and also to improve car park quality and disabled provision in these areas.

“Parking in the town will be easier and more accessible for everyone, supporting residents and businesses. Parking charges and other controls will ensure everyone can park where they need to, when they need to.

Key actions within the plan include:

Introduction of parking tariffs and other controls
Parking charges and other controls will be introduced at some locations to support short stay parking in core retail areas and alleviate blockages caused by long-stay commuter use.

The recommended new tariffs and controls are as follows:

Frodsham

Moor Lane – multi-user tariff – a graduated tariff to control levels of long stay commuter parking and to release capacity to short-to-medium stay local users

Frodsham Station / Extension car park – multi-user tariff – a graduated tariff to control long stay commuter parking and free up capacity for short to medium stay local users

Health Centre – Free with maximum stay and user group restrictions to prevent long-stay commuter displacement to this car park and to protect parking for the Health Centre, Library and leisure centre users.

Will to Work Extension – multi-user tariff – to again protect short to medium stay capacity for local people.

Main Street – Free with maximum stay restrictions and exemptions for residents – to prioritise short stay users and encourage turnover in this core retail area and prevent all-day commuter parking.

Helsby

Station Avenue (subject to a full length of stay survey) – Long stay tariff – with the same long stay rates as for Frodsham car parks to prevent rail users moving to this car park as a result of Frodsham tariffs

Chester Road (bays) – Maximum stay restrictions of one or two hours – to cater for short stay displacement from Station Avenue car park and to free up spaces from commuter parking.

Britannia Road – a new blue badge on-street parking bay is recommended next to the shops to improve accessibility in this location.

Recommended tariffs are: Moor Lane, Frodsham Station/extension car park and Will to Work Extension: 20p for up to two hours, 50p for two to four hours, £1 for four to six hours and £1.50 six to eight hours. Station Avenue: £1.50 for up to eight hours.

The potential impact of car park users moving to surrounding residential areas will be monitored to determine whether residents’ parking schemes or other restrictions are needed.

Investment in maintaining and improving car parks
The Council has committed to ensure that:

car parks are safe and clean

we have enough parking for people with mobility problems

we have good signage

we use new technology to make visits easier and flexible

To support this, local parking provision in need of maintenance has been identified within the action plan and a programme of long-term investment will ensure that all facilities are brought up to standard. There is a need to increase capacity for station parking in both Frodsham and Helsby and this will be reviewed once the changes are implemented.

A programme of quality improvement works is planned to start between March and June 2018.

The works to be carried out will raise the standard of the most used car parks to the best industry standard:

Lighting and CCTV improvements will be carried out to improve driver safety and the users’ experience, particularly after dark

Signage within car parks and on streets directing drivers to the most suitable car park, including up-to-date information on space availability, will assist visitors

The introduction of new technology offering a range of payment methods, including cards and phones will make visits easier and more flexible.

Improving the size, quality and number of spaces for drivers with mobility issues.

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